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The Ravens' ride to New Orleans

Capturing their second-consecutive AFC North Division title, the 2012 AFC Champion Baltimore Ravens finished with a 10-6 record en route to earning their fifth-straight playoff berth. Baltimore is the only NFL team to make the playoffs in each of the past five seasons -- with the Ravens also winning at least one playoff game in each and now advancing to their first Super Bowl during the John Harbaugh Era. The Ravens, who have made the playoffs in six of the past seven seasons, seized the franchise's fourth-ever division title with a 4-2 mark in AFC North play and an 8-4 overall conference record. Under Harbaugh, Baltimore has registered at least 10 wins in four of five regular seasons, with the Ravens now owning the NFL's second-most total victories (62, including playoffs) since his 2008 Baltimore arrival (New England is first with 63). Here's how they got there.

Sept. 10: The Ravens started the season unveiling a no-huddle offense that propelled the team to an impressive 44-13 victory over the visiting Bengals on Sept. 10. QB Joe Flacco was superb, completing 21 of 29 passes for 299 yards and 2 touchdowns. Baltimore leaped out to a 10-0 first-quarter lead on a 46-yard K Justin Tucker field goal and a 7-yard RB Ray Rice TD run. A Flacco-to-WR Anquan Boldin 34-yard TD pass made the score 17-3 in the second quarter. Cincy made the score 17-10 at the half when RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis ran for a 6-yard TD on fourth-and-one. But the Ravens then exploded for 27 second-half points after the Bengals closed the gap to 17-13 on the first series of the third quarter (K Mike Nugent’s 19-yard FG). Highlights included S Ed Reed returning a QB Andy Dalton interception 34 yards for a TD and Flacco’s 10-yard TD toss to TE Dennis Pitta. Pitta’s 5 catches for 73 yards were highs for the Ravens. Rice scored 2 TDs, rushing 10 times for 68 yards and adding 3 catches for 25 more. Tucker connected on 3 FGs (46, 40 and 39 yards) in his debut. Dalton was 22-of-37 for 221 yards, completing 8 passes for 86 yards to WR Andrew Hawkins. Dalton was sacked 4 times, however, 1.5 times by DT Haloti Ngata. Green-Ellis gained 91 yards on 18 carries. With his 58th-career interception and 34-yard return, Reed became the NFL’s all-time leader in interception return yards with 1,497, besting Hall of Famer Rod Woodson’s 1,483 yards. Following his stellar performance, Flacco earned the AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.

Sept. 16: In a thrilling and chaotic contest, the Ravens dropped their first game of the season, losing 24-23. Eagles QB Michael Vick’s 1-yard TD plunge with 1:55 left in the game provided Philly with the winning margin. The Ravens appeared to take a 10-point, 27-17 lead with 5:35 left in the game after QB Joe Flacco found WR Jacoby Jones in the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown, however, an offensive pass interference call on Jones nullified the score. The Eagles took a 7-0 first-quarter lead on RB LeSean McCoy’s 1-yard TD 10 minutes into the game after getting the ball on the Ravens' 15-yard line following a Flacco sack/fumble. Baltimore roared right back, tying the game on a 5-yard FB Vonta Leach TD run. A Flacco-to-Jones 21-yard scoring strike and a 56-yard K Justin Tucker field goal gave the Ravens a 17-7 halftime lead. (Tucker’s FG tied for the longest in Ravens history.) An Eagles’ touchdown – Vick to WR Jeremy Maclin for 23 yards – and a 23-yard FG by K Alex Henery tied the game at 17 after three quarters. Tucker then made 51- and 48-yard FGs to give Baltimore a 23-17 lead with 4:43 left in the game. The Ravens moved the ball to their own 46 on the final drive before failing on a fourth-and-1 pass from Flacco that was intended for RB Ray Rice. Flacco finished the game with 22 completions on 42 attempts for 232 yards. TE Dennis Pitta caught a team-high 8 balls for 65 yards, while Rice caught 6 for 53 and added 99 rushing yards on 16 carries. Vick completed 23 of 32 for 371 yards, including 8 to TE Brent Celek for 157 yards and 7 to WR DeSean Jackson for 114 more. The Eagles produced 486 yards to the Ravens’ 325.

Sept. 23: In a wild game played in Baltimore and televised nationally, the Ravens beat the Patriots, 31-30, last Sunday night. The game was not sealed until the final play when Baltimore rookie K Justin Tucker made a 27-yard field goal. The Ravens rebounded from 13-0 (first quarter) and 30-21 (fourth quarter) deficits. WR Torrey Smith, who caught 6 passes for 127 yards with 2 TDs, played with a heavy heart. His younger brother Tevin, who was 19, died that morning after crashing a motorcycle. New England took a 13-0, first-quarter lead on 2 K Stephen Gostkowski field goals (37 and 49 yards) and a 2-yard RB Brandon Bolden TD run. The Ravens rallied with 2 second-quarter TDs on passes from QB Joe Flacco to Smith (25 yards) and TE Dennis Pitta (20 yards). A QB Tom Brady-to-WR Julian Edelman 7-yard TD toss gave the Patriots a 20-14 halftime lead. RB Ray Rice, who rushed for 101 yards and caught 5 passes for 49 more, opened the second half with a 7-yard TD scamper to give the Ravens a 21-20 lead. But, the Pats roared back, scoring the game’s next 10 points – a RB Danny Woodhead 3-yard TD and a 20-yard Gostkowski FG – to take the 30-21, fourth-quarter lead. Smith’s second TD reception from Flacco (5 yards) with 4:01 remaining brought the Ravens within 2 (30-28) before Tucker’s game-winner. Flacco completed 28 of 39 passes for 382 yards with 3 TDs. Brady was 28-of-41 for 335 yards, including 9 to WR Brandon Lloyd for 108 yards and 8 to WR Wes Welker for 142 more. It was Flacco’s ninth-career 300-yard passing game, the most in Ravens history.

Sept. 27: Playing their fourth game in 18 days, the Ravens stopped the determined Browns, 23-16 at M&T Bank Stadium. It was Baltimore’s ninth-consecutive win over Cleveland and 13th victory in a row at home. After a scoreless first quarter, the Ravens took a 9-0 lead on an 18-yard QB Joe Flacco-to-WR Torrey Smith touchdown pass (aborted PAT) and a 45-yard K Justin Tucker field goal. The Browns bounced back with a 94-yard TD drive that finished with a 1-yard RB Trent Richardson TD blast to make the score 9-7 at the half. A Flacco 1-yard TD run, along with CB Cary Williams’ 63-yard INT-TD, gave the Ravens a comfortable 23-10 advantage after three quarters. Browns K Phil Dawson kicked a 51-yard FG in the third period and added 50- and 52-yard FGs in the fourth quarter to get Cleveland within 7 (23-16) with 4:33 left in the game. A last-minute effort that ended with QB Brandon Weeden’s final pass sailing out of the end zone concluded the contest. After catching just 1 pass for 6 yards in the first half, WR Anquan Boldin exploded in the second half and finished with 9 receptions for 131 yards, his 33rd-career 100-yard game. RB Ray Rice added 8 catches for 47 yards, while Smith grabbed 6 for 97 yards. (Rice also rushed 18 times for 49 yards.) Flacco completed 28 of 46 for 356 yards – his second-straight game of 300-plus yards passing (382 vs. the Patriots on 9/23). Weeden threw 52 passes, completing 25 for 320 yards. Richardson ran for 47 yards on 14 carries. It was the Ravens’ 10th consecutive victory in the AFC North.

Oct. 7: No touchdowns were scored in the Ravens’ hard-fought 9-6 victory over the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium last Sunday. Rookie K Justin Tucker scored all of Baltimore’s points with FGs of 28, 26 and 39 yards. Chiefs K Ryan Succop’s 2 FGs (30 and 31 yards) accounted for the Kansas City scoring. The game was tied 3-3 at the half despite an impressive running performance by KC RB Jamaal Charles, who carried 20 times for 125 yards in the first two quarters. While the Chiefs rushed for 179 yards in the first half, Baltimore’s “D” limited the hosts to just 35 yards on 16 carries in the last two quarters. Key plays in the game included Chiefs QB Matt Cassel’s lost fumble at the Ravens’ 1-yard line (S Ed Reed recovered) in the third quarter and QB Joe Flacco’s 16-yard scramble on third-and-15 for a first down with 3 minutes left in the game. Flacco completed 13 of 27 for 187 yards, including 4 to WR Anquan Boldin for 82 yards. RB Ray Rice rushed for 102 yards (17 carries), making a game-clinching 1-yard run with two minutes left in the contest. It was Rice’s 15th-career 100-yard rushing game. Charles finished with 140 rushing yards, and Cassel was 9-of-15 for 92 yards, with WR Dwayne Bowe catching 6 for 60 yards. The Ravens scored all 3 FGs on drives following KC turnovers. The game marked Baltimore’s first win without scoring a TD five years to the day (10/7/07 at SF, 9-7).

Oct. 14: In a game that was not decided until Dallas K Dan Bailey missed a 51-yard FG attempt with 2 seconds left in the game, the Ravens stopped the visiting Cowboys, 31-29. It was the Ravens’ 14th-consecutive regular season victory at home. After building a 24-13, third-quarter lead on WR Jacoby Jones’ NFL-record-tying 108-yard kickoff return, the Cowboys came back to within 1 point (24-23) on QB Tony Romo’s 7-yard TD to WR Dez Bryant and Bailey’s 34-yard FG. The Ravens responded with a 10-play, 73-yard TD drive that finished with RB Ray Rice’s 1-yard score, giving Baltimore a 31-23 lead with 4:41 left in the game. Dallas then responded with its own long drive (18 plays, 80 yards) that ended with a Romo-to-Bryant 4-yard TD pass, which made the score 31-29 with 32 seconds left in the fourth quarter. The Cowboys’ 2-point attempt failed, but Dallas recovered the ensuing onside kick at its own 46-yard line. A pass interference call on CB Chykie Brown put the Cowboys in position to try the 51-yarder. The Ravens took a 17-10, first-half lead on a 38-yard K Justin Tucker FG, a 1-yard Rice TD run and a 19-yard QB Joe Flacco TD dart to WR Torrey Smith. Flacco completed 17 of 26 passes for 234 yards and a 106.9 QB rating, while Romo was 25-of-36 for 261 yards and 2 TDs (97.1). Impressively, Dallas held the ball 40:03 of the game, rushing for 227 yards, the most ever against a Ravens’ defense. RB DeMarco Murray rushed 14 times for 93 yards, and RB Felix Jones added 92 yards on 18 tries. Bryant caught 13 for 95 yards, while WR Anquan Boldin led the Ravens with 5 receptions for 98 yards.

Oct. 21: A banged up Ravens’ team, playing its first game without recently-injured LB Ray Lewis and CB Lardarius Webb, lost at Houston, 43-13, in a battle that featured the AFC teams with the best records (5-1). Houston QB Matt Schaub threw 2 TD passes, and RB Arian Foster ran for 2 more, while the Texans’ defense added a safety and a TD with 1 of 2 INTs against QB Joe Flacco. Baltimore started well, taking a 3-0 lead on K Justin Tucker’s 51-yard FG. After forcing back-to-back “three-and-outs” on the Texans’ first two possessions, Houston’s defense scored when Flacco was tackled for a safety by LB Connor Barwin. Houston took advantage of the next possession, completing a TD drive when Schaub hit WR Kevin Walter with a 25-yard TD strike for a 9-3 lead. CB Johnathan Joseph then stole a Flacco pass and raced 52 yards for another TD to give the Texans a 16-3, second-quarter lead. The rout was on. By halftime, Houston led 29-3 after a Schaub-to-TE Owen Daniels TD and 2 K Shayne Graham FGs (33 and 29 yards). Showing the fight they kept all game, the Ravens came back with a TD in the third quarter when Flacco hit WR Tandon Toss on a 15-yard pass. Foster then added his 2 TD runs (1 and 2 yards) around another impressive Tucker FG (54 yards) to complete the scoring. Houston dominated in almost every category, outgaining the Ravens 420 to 176 yards and owning time of possession (38:16 to 21:44). Flacco completed 21 of 43 for 147 yards, and Schaub was 23-of-37 for 256 yards and a 100.7 rating. Houston rushed for 181 yards, with Foster gaining 98 on 19 carries. RB Ray Rice ran 9 times for 42 and was limited to 12 yards receiving on 5 catches. The game featured the first appearance of the season for OLB Terrell Suggs, who was the NFL’s 2011 Defensive Player of the Year and had torn his Achilles in April. Suggs notched 4 tackles, 1 sack and 1 PD against the Texans.

Coming off a bye week, the Ravens beat the Browns on Nov. 4: Starting fast and finishing strong, the Ravens stopped the Browns, 25-15, at Cleveland Browns Stadium. It was Baltimore’s 10th-consecutive victory over the Browns and 11th-consecutive AFC North win. The Ravens jumped to a 14-0, firstquarter lead after rushing touchdowns by RB Ray Rice (8 yards) and RB Bernard Pierce (12 yards). The Browns then shut out Baltimore over the next two quarters, while Cleveland kicker Phil Dawson made 4 field goals (32, 28, 29 and 33.) Dawson then converted a 41-yard FG with 8:48 left in the game to give the Browns a 15-14 lead. The Ravens bounced right back with a nine-play, 81-yard TD drive that concluded when QB Joe Flacco hit WR Torrey Smith with a 19-yard score. The twopoint conversion from Flacco to WR Anquan Boldin gave the Ravens a 22-15 lead with 4:26 left in the contest. Baltimore extended the lead to 10 with 2:49 remaining on a 43-yard K Justin Tucker FG. Flacco completed 15 of 24 for 153 yards and a 94.6 rating. Boldin caught 5 passes for 57 yards, including a key 21-yard catch during the fourth-quarter TD drive. Rice rushed for 98 yards on 25 carries. Browns rookie RB Trent Richardson gained 105 yards on 25 tries and caught 6 passes for 31 more. The Ravens’ defense limited rookie QB Brandon Weeden to 176 passing yards on 20 of 37 completions. S Ed Reed and CB Cary Williams each intercepted Weeden. It marked Williams’ team-high 4th INT of the season and the 60th of Reed’s career.

Nov. 11: Scoring the most points in franchise history, the Ravens topped the visiting Raiders, 55-20, at M&T Bank Stadium. QB Joe Flacco threw 3 TD passes and ran for a fourth, while Baltimore’s special teams provided 2 TDs. The Ravens took a 10-0, first-quarter lead on a 48-yard K Justin Tucker field goal and Flacco’s 1-yard TD dive. After an Oakland FG (K Sebastian Janikowski, 32 yards), the Ravens extended the lead to 20-3 on a Flacco-to-TE Dennis Pitta 5-yard TD toss and another Tucker FG (34 yards). Oakland fought back, cutting the lead to 10 (20-10) on a QB Carson Palmer-to-WR Darrius Heyward-Bey 55-yard TD throw with 1:37 left in the second quarter. But, the Ravens roared back with a quick 7-play, 80-yard TD drive that ended with a 7-yard RB Ray Rice score that gave the home team a 27-10 halftime lead. The Ravens scored again on the opening series of the second half when WR Torrey Smith grabbed a 47-yard TD strike from Flacco to make the score 34-10. After the Raiders scored on a Palmer-to-WR Denarius Moore 30-yard pass, Flacco hit Smith again with a TD throw (20 yards). After P Sam Koch scored from 7 yards on a fake FG, the Ravens enjoyed a 48-17, third-quarter advantage. Janikowski added a 47-yard FG, and Baltimore’s WR/RS Jacoby Jones returned a kickoff 105 yards for the game’s final tally. Flacco completed 21 of 33 for 341 yards with 3 TDs and 1 INT for a 115.8 QB rating. Palmer, who was sacked 3 times and had 6 passes tipped near or at the line of scrimmage, was 29-of-45 for 368 yards (95.4 rating). OLB Paul Kruger intercepted Palmer and sacked him twice.

Nov. 18: In a battle typical of the games played between Baltimore and Pittsburgh, the Ravens beat the Steelers, 13-10, at Heinz Field. It was the sixth time in the last seven regular season games played between the Ravens and Steelers that the game was decided by three points. It was Baltimore’s third-straight regular season victory at Heinz and 12th-consecutive win in the AFC North. (That streak ties Indianapolis for the most division wins in a row since realignment in 2002.) While the Ravens held the Steelers without a touchdown in the final 59 minutes and 17 seconds of the game, Pittsburgh’s lone TD was scored in the first minute of the contest. QB Byron Leftwich, playing for the injured Ben Roethlisberger, raced 31 yards for a touchdown just 43 seconds into the game. Baltimore bounced back to take a 10-7, first-quarter lead on K Justin Tucker’s 26-yard field goal and WR Jacoby Jones’ spectacular 63-yard punt return. The Ravens bumped the lead to 13-7 in the third quarter on Tucker’s 39-yard FG into the open end of Heinz. Later in the period, Steelers K Shaun Suisham provided the final points of the game with a 22-yard FG. Both teams struggled on third downs with Baltimore converting just 3-of-14, while Pittsburgh was 5-of-17. The Steelers out gained the Ravens 311 to 200 yards. QB Joe Flacco completed 20 of 32 passes for 164 yards, including 8 for 79 to WR Anquan Boldin. Leftwich was 18-of-39 for 201 and was intercepted once by CB Corey Graham. The Ravens did not turn the ball over, while taking it away from the Steelers three times, scoring both of their FGs after the take-aways.

Nov. 25: Rookie K Justin Tucker kicked a 38-yard field goal with no time left in regulation to tie the Chargers at 13-13, and he then kicked another 38-yarder with 1:07 left in overtime to give Baltimore a 16-13 victory over San Diego at Qualcomm Stadium. The Chargers took a 13-3 lead on K Nick Novak’s 30-yard FG with 7:39 left in the fourth quarter. Ravens QB Joe Flacco then directed a 9-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a 4-yard TD toss to TE Dennis Pitta with 4:19 left in regulation to make the score 13-10. After the Baltimore defense limited the Chargers to a three-and-out, the Ravens had the ball on their own 40 following a 23-yard punt return by WR/RS Jacoby Jones. Four plays later, the Ravens faced fourth-and-29 on their own 37 when the play of the game was made. Flacco threw a short pass to RB Ray Rice, who scampered the needed 29 yards to San Diego’s 34-yard line for the first down. Four plays later, Tucker tied the game as the fourth quarter ended. The Chargers had the ball twice in the overtime, the second resulting in a three-and-out before Flacco led the winning 12-play, 69-yard drive. After a scoreless first quarter, the Chargers took a 10-0 halftime lead on QB Philip Rivers’ 21-yard strike to WR Malcom Floyd and a 47-yard Novak FG. The only score in the third period came from a Tucker 43-yard FG to make the deficit 10-3 entering the fourth quarter. Flacco finished with 30 completions on 51 attempts for 355 yards. Rice caught 8 passes for 67 yards, while WR Torrey Smith grabbed 7 for a contest-high 144 yards, including a key 31-yarder on the game’s final series. Rice added 97 rushing yards (22 carries). Rivers completed 23 of 36 for 228 yards and was sacked 6 times, twice by DE Arthur Jones, who posted 5 total tackles.

Dec. 2: For the seventh time in the last eight regular season meetings between the Ravens and Steelers, the game was decided by three points. This time Pittsburgh won, 23-20, at M&T Bank Stadium. The Steelers’ win was the first loss at home for the Ravens since Mike Tomlin’s team stopped Baltimore, 13-10, on Dec. 5, 2010. The defeat halted a 16-game M&T Bank Stadium (including playoffs) Ravens’ winning streak, plus a 12-game, AFC North run without a loss. This battle was tied three times, including at 20-20 when Pittsburgh K Shaun Suisham kicked a 42-yard game-winning field goal as time expired. Suisham gave the Steelers a 3-0, first-quarter lead on a 46-yard FG, but the Ravens rallied with 13-consecutive points. K Justin Tucker connected on back-to-back 45- and 23-yard FGs in the second quarter before QB Joe Flacco threw an on-target, 28-yard touchdown to WR Anquan Boldin. Suisham’s 41-yard FG made the score 13-6 at the half. On the opening drive of the third quarter, the Steelers tied the game when RB Jonathan Dwyer scampered 16 yards for a TD. Still in the third period, RB Ray Rice gave the advantage (20-13) back to the home team with a 34-yard TD sprint. With 7:24 left in the game, QB Charlie Batch found TE Heath Miller for a 7-yard TD to tie the contest at 20-20. Batch was impressive throughout the game, completing 25 of 36 passes for 276 yards. Flacco finished with 16 completions on 34 attempts for 188 yards, including 5 for 81 to Boldin and 4 for 40 to FB Vonta Leach. Rice rushed for 78 yards on 12 carries. S Ed Reed produced two take-aways (FR and INT), and CB Corey Graham also stole a Batch pass. Both of Baltimore’s TDs came after Steelers’ turnovers. OLB James Harrison had a key play late in the game when he sacked Flacco and caused a fumble that was recovered by DE Ziggy Hood. Miller’s TD followed that take-away.

Dec. 9: For the second week in a row, the Ravens lost on the last play of the game. This time, it was in overtime when the host Redskins produced a furious rally to tie the contest, 28-28, in regulation and then won in the extra period on K Kai Forbath’s 34-yard field goal. Baltimore took an 8-point lead (28-20) with 4:47 left in regulation on RB Ray Rice’s 7-yard TD run. Washington then produced an impressive 13-play, 85-yard drive that finished with backup QB Kirk Cousins hitting WR Pierre Garcon with an 11-yard TD strike. Cousins then scored on a QB draw for the 2-point conversion to tie the game at 28. Twice in that series the Ravens sent Redskins starting QB Robert Griffin III to the sideline with injuries, setting up Cousins’ heroics. The Ravens took a 21-14 halftime lead on 3 QB Joe Flacco TD throws: 2 to WR Anquan Boldin (19 and 31 yards) and the other to TE Dennis Pitta (14 yards). The Redskins scored on a 4-yard Griffin-to-WR Joshua Morgan throw and a 1-yard RB Alfred Morris run. The Redskins came within 1 (21-20) in the third quarter on a pair of Forbath FGs (48 and 49 yards). In the overtime, Baltimore won the toss, but punted after not making a first down. CB Richard Crawford then returned the kick 64 yards to set up the winning FG. Flacco completed 16 of 21 passes for 182 yards and a 121.4 QB rating. His 2 third-quarter turnovers (INT and a fumble) set up 2 Redskins FGs. Rice ran 20 times for 121 yards and caught 3 passes for 15 more. Morris rushed for 122 yards for the ‘Skins, while Griffin III was 15-of-26 for 246 yards and a 102.4 rating. Boldin (10,072) passed the 10,000-yard career receiving milestone during his team-leading 78-yard performance (3 catches). OLB Paul Kruger has tallied at least 1 sack in five-straight games, tying former Ravens’ OLB Adalius Thomas (who did it twice, 2005 and 2006) for a team record.

Dec. 16: Two of the AFC’s best squared off with the Broncos cruising to a 34-17 victory over the Ravens. It was the Broncos’ ninth-consecutive win, while the Ravens lost a third straight for just the third time in the five-year John Harbaugh era. Denver led from start to finish with the biggest blow coming at the end of the first half. Trailing 10-0, Baltimore drove to the Broncos’ 4-yard line with 30 seconds and three timeouts left near the end of the second quarter. CB Chris Harris, in a momentum-turning play, grabbed a QB Joe Flacco pass intended for WR Anquan Boldin and raced 98 yards to the end zone with the INT to give the Broncos a 17-0 halftime lead. The Ravens played with a depleted defense, missing four of their top five tacklers (S Bernard Pollard, LB Jameel McClain, LB Dannell Ellerbe and LB Ray Lewis). Offensive first-teamers, Pro Bowl G Marshal Yanda and TE Ed Dickson, also were sidelined. The Broncos took a 3-0 first-quarter lead on K Matt Prater’s 27-yard field goal. RB Jacob Hester’s 1-yard TD run gave the Broncos a 10-0 second-quarter lead. The Ravens opened the second half with a K Justin Tucker 45-yard FG before QB Peyton Manning hit WR Eric Decker with a 51-yard TD throw that gave Denver a 24-3 advantage. Two minutes later, following a Baltimore three-and-out, RB Knowshon Moreno made it 31-3 with a 6-yard TD sprint. TE Dennis Pitta, who enjoyed a career-best day with 7 catches for 125 yards, made the score respectable with 2 TD catches. The first was for 31 yards, while the second was a spectacular 61-yard catch and run that saw Pitta break three tackles. Decker caught 8 of those for 133 yards. Moreno rushed for 118 yards on 22 carries. Denver held the ball 38:34 of the contest, limiting Baltimore to just 21:26. The Broncos’ defense limited the Ravens’ offense, playing its first game under new coordinator Jim Caldwell, to 1-of-12 on third down.

Dec. 23: The Ravens clinched a second-consecutive AFC North title when they defeated the defending Super Bowl champion Giants, 33-14, at M&T Bank Stadium. Baltimore dominated from beginning to end, producing its most yards of the season (533) while limiting New York to 186. The Ravens owned the time-of-possession battle (39:21 to 20:39) and third-down conversions, making 11 of 18 on offense and holding the Giants to 2-of-10. Behind a sharp QB Joe Flacco, the Ravens jumped to a 14-0, first-quarter lead on their initial two possessions. Flacco hit WR Torrey Smith with a 6-yard touchdown throw for a 7-0 lead, and then Flacco ran for a 1-yard TD to make it 14-0. By halftime, the Ravens increased the lead to 24-7. Flacco added a 27-yard TD bullet to RB Ray Rice, and K Justin Tucker made a 23-yard field goal. New York’s lone first-half score came on a RB David Wilson 14-yard TD scamper near the end of the first quarter. The onslaught continued in the second half, with the Ravens increasing the lead to 33-7 on 3 Tucker FGs (21, 30 and 29 yards). New York added a late fourth-quarter TD when QB Eli Manning hit WR Domenik Hixon with a 14-yard TD strike. Flacco completed 25 of 36 passes for 309 yards (114.2 QB rating). Baltimore rushed for 224 yards, another season high. New York was limited to 67 rushing yards. The Ravens have won their 10th-consecutive regular season home finale (dating back to 2003), the NFL’s longest such active streak. Under Harbaugh (since 2008), the Ravens improved to 10-0 at home against the NFC, while dating back to 2006, the Ravens have won 13-consecutive home games against the NFC.

Dec. 30: Playing without six starters, including five Pro Bowl-type players (WR Anquan Boldin, DT Haloti Ngata, ILB Ray Lewis, OLB Terrell Suggs and G Marshal Yanda), the Ravens dropped the regular season finale, 23-17, at Cincinnati. Having little to gain in the various AFC playoff scenarios, the Ravens not only rested some starters dealing with injuries, but pulled many other starters after the game’s first couple of series. Despite liberal use of young players, the Ravens out-gained the Bengals 352 to 189 yards. The game-deciding play happened with 6:06 remaining in the fourth quarter when Bengals DE Carlos Dunlap stole a QB Tyrod Taylor pass and raced 14 yards into the end zone to give Cincy a 23-14 advantage. The Ravens took a 7-0, first-quarter lead on RB Anthony Allen’s 2-yard touchdown run. The Bengals made it 7-7 at the half after QB Andy Dalton’s 14-yard TD throw to WR Marvin Jones with 39 seconds left in the second quarter. A pair of K Josh Brown field goals (47 and 32 yards) gave the Bengals a 13-7 lead after three quarters. Taylor’s 1-yard TD scamper gave Baltimore a 14-13 lead early in the fourth quarter. Brown’s 38-yard FG gave the lead back to Cincinnati (16-14). K Justin Tucker added a 49-yard FG for the Ravens with 1:21 left in the contest. Taylor completed 15 of 25 for 149 yards, while Dalton, who played in the first half, was 10-of-15 for 78 yards. Ravens rookie RB Bernard Pierce led all rushers with 89 yards on 22 carries, Allen added 41 yards on 10 runs.TE Ed Dickson’s 6 catches for 64 yards were also a game best.

Jan. 6: The Ravens beat the Colts 24-9 in the Wild Card Game: Before a sellout M&T Bank Stadium crowd that celebrated and saluted LB Ray Lewis in his final home game, the Ravens held the Colts without a touchdown, winning 24-9. Lewis, in his 17th and final season after being a first-round pick of the Ravens in 1996, finished with 13 tackles and a pass defensed in his first game since tearing his triceps on Oct. 14. After a scoreless first quarter, Baltimore scored first on a 23-yard K Justin Tucker field goal. The Colts’ Adam Vinatieri matched that with a 47-yarder before Ravens FB Vonta Leach made it 10-3 on a 2-yard touchdown power play. Vinatieri’s 52-yarder with 50 seconds left in the second quarter made the score 10-6 at the half. QB Joe Flacco, who averaged 23.5 yards per completion in the game, hit TE Dennis Pitta with a 20-yard TD to extend the Ravens’ lead to 17-6. Vinatieri’s 26-yard FG at the end of the third quarter made it 17-9. The Ravens put the game away when Flacco hit WR Anquan Boldin with an 18-yard TD throw to create the final margin of 24-9. Boldin set a Ravens’ playoff record with 145 receiving yards (5 catches). Rookie RB Bernard Pierce, whose 43-yard run set up Baltimore’s final TD, rushed for 103 yards on 13 carries (7.9 avg.) RB Ray Rice added 70 yards on 15 carries, helping the Ravens to 172 rushing yards. Rice also had a 47-yard catch and run to set up the game’s first TD. Colts rookie QB Andrew Luck threw 54 times, completing 28 for 288 yards with an interception, but could not lead his team to the end zone. WR Reggie Wayne caught 9 for 114, and WR T.Y. Hilton grabbed 8 for 66 more. The Colts did dominate time of possession, holding the ball 37:32 of the game.

Jan. 12: So, we meet again. The Ravens beat Peyton Manning and the Broncos in the Divisional Round, 38-35 in double OT! In what became the fourth-longest game in NFL history, the Ravens outlasted the Broncos, 38-35, in double overtime, in a thrilling victory that will will go down as one of the greatest wins in franchise history. Rookie K Justin Tucker’s 47-yard field goal in the second overtime period sent Baltimore into the AFC Championship for the second-straight season. The Ravens tied the game at 35 with :31 remaining in regulation on a QB Joe Flacco-to-WR Jacoby Jones 70-yard TD toss. Denver opened the scoring on a RS Trindon Holliday 90-yard punt return for a TD, but the Ravens answered back on their next possession with a 59-yard WR Torrey Smith TD catch, tying the game at 7. On the Broncos’ first offensive possession, CB Corey Graham secured his first of 2 INTs off QB Peyton Manning, racing 39 yards to the end zone to give the Ravens a 14-7 lead. Manning’s 15-yard toss to WR Brandon Stokley tied the game at 14 at the end of the first quarter. Denver took the lead, 21-14, after Manning hit RB Knowshon Moreno with a 14-yard TD strike. But, the Ravens tied the game just before the half on a spectacular grab by a leaping Smith for a 32-yard TD. Holliday scored another special teams TD, this time on a 104-yard KOR to open the second half, but Baltimore tied the game again on a RB Ray Rice 1-yard TD run at the end of the third period. Manning connected with WR Demaryius Thomas for a 17-yard TD midway through the fourth, giving Denver a 35-28 lead. Graham intercepted Manning near the end of the first overtime, setting up the Tucker game-winner. Baltimore has now reached the AFC Championship in three of the last five years, with John Harbaugh becoming the first head coach in NFL history (since 1970 merger) to reach three conference title games in his first five seasons.

Jan. 20: "Bring on Brady" set to "Call Me Maybe" was the viral parody on YouTube for the AFC Championship Game in which the Ravens beat the Patriots, 28-13: The Baltimore Ravens earned a trip to their second Super Bowl in franchise history, defeating the No. 2 seed Patriots, 28-13, in the AFC Championship. The Ravens’ defense shut out the NFL’s No. 1-ranked and highest-scoring offense in the second half, and QB Joe Flacco, who has 8 TDs and zero INTs in the playoffs, threw three TDs in leading Baltimore to victory. The Ravens held New England to a K Stephen Gostkowski 31-yard field goal on four first-quarter possessions. Then, Flacco led the team on a 13-play, 90-yard scoring drive to open the second quarter, capped by a RB Ray Rice 2-yard TD run. New England struck back with a QB Tom Brady-to-WR Wes Welker 1-yard TD, making the score 10-7. After another Gostkowski field goal (25 yards), the Patriots took a 13-7 lead at halftime. Early in the third period, Flacco hit TE Dennis Pitta with a 5-yard TD pass, giving Baltimore a 14-13 lead. Flacco was 6 for 9 for 64 yards on the 72-yard scoring drive. The Ravens’ defense was stout, forcing the Patriots to punt on both third-quarter possessions, while the offense continued to put points on the board, including Flacco’s second TD, a three-yard pass to a leaping WR Anquan Boldin in the back of the end zone early in the fourth quarter. After the Ravens forced a RB Stevan Ridley fumble, Flacco hit Boldin again on an 11-yard toss, giving the Ravens a 28-13 lead and the final margin. Baltimore’s defense sealed the game with 2 INTs on New England’s final two possessions. The Ravens held Brady to a 62.3 QB rating, his fourth-worst in 24 career postseason games. The Brady-led Pats had been 67-0 at home when leading at halftime.

And so, Super Bowl XLVII is set: The Ravens take on the San Francisco 49ers in New Orleans. With a victory against the 49ers, the Ravens would capture their second Super Bowl title (2000) in franchise history. The Ravens can become just the fourth team to earn multiple Super Bowl championships since 2000 (NE - 3, NYG - 2 and Pit. - 2). Also, with a victory over San Francisco, John Harbaugh would set a record for the most playoff wins (9) in a head coach's first five seasons in NFL history (since 1970 merger). Harbaugh currently has 8, tied with Tom Flores (Oak./LA from 1979-83)

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